Wake Forest Volleyball Hands Out 2007-08 Team Awards
4/15/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Volleyball
April 15, 2008
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - The Wake Forest volleyball held its annual season-ending banquet on Sunday, handing out several team awards on the night.
Head coach Heather Kahl Holmes presented awards for Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, Best Offensive Player, Best Defensive Player, the Deacon Award, the Dedication Award and the Academic Award.
Junior middle blocker Natalie Mullikin was named the team's Most Valuable Player. Mullikin had a record-breaking season in 2007. Finishing with 35 block solos on the year, she broke the Wake Forest career record -- a mark that had stood for 21 years. Mullikin finished in the top five on Wake Forest's single-season lists for block assists (t-2nd), block solos (t-2nd), total blocks (3rd), blocks per game (3rd) and kills per game (5th).
Mullikin was named first team All-ACC and was selected to the ACC All-Academic Team. She was one of only seven student-athletes in the ACC to be named to both teams.
She finished the year as Wake Forest's leader in kills, blocks and hitting percentage. She also ranked in the top 10 of the ACC in each of those categories. (blocks per game - 5th; kills per game - 6th; hitting percentage -7th).
Mullikin also won the Best Offensive Player Award. She led the team in kills per game with 3.94 and in hitting percentage at .320. In the ACC, she ranked sixth in kills per game and seventh in hitting percentage. Mullikin had double digit kill totals in all but three matches this season. She also had 20+ kills on five occasions. She finished fourth on Wake Forest's all-time single-season kills list.
Freshman setter Kelsey Jones received the team's Rookie of the Year Award. She was the starting setter in 26 matches, dishing out an average of 10.8 assists per game, which ranked her eighth in the ACC. Jones also ranked second on the team in digs per game with 2.77 and in hitting percentage at .236.
Jones led the team with 14 double-doubles on the year. She came within three blocks and four kills of a quadruple-double on Nov. 14 against North Carolina.
Jones was named to the ACC All-Freshman Team and to the ACC All-Academic Team. She was one of only two student-athletes in the ACC to be named to both teams.
Sophomore defensive specialist Abby Miller and freshman libero Megan Thornberry shared the Best Defensive Player Award.
Thornberry played in all 31 matches last season and served as the team's starting libero for most of the season. She led the team and ranked 10th in the ACC with 4.18 digs per game. Thornberry finished fifth on Wake Forest's all-time single season digs and digs per game list. She tallied 20+ digs eight times on the year and was in double figures for digs 23 times.
Thornberry finished with a reception percentage of .945 and had nine matches with no reception errors. She was a perfect 41-for-41 on reception attempts on Nov. 14 against North Carolina. She also led the team with 22 service aces.
Miller played in 30 matches and made 24 starts at defensive specialist. She ranked third on the team with 2.68 digs per game. She finished with a reception percentage of .940 and had 13 games with no reception errors. Miller had just one reception error over the last seven matches of the season. She recorded double figure digs 11 times, including a career-high 20 on Nov. 14 against North Carolina.
The Dedication Award, which is chosen by strength and conditioning coach Todd Hedrick for the athlete who shows the most discipline and hard work in the areas of strength and conditioning, went to Ashley Homitz.
Miller and Mullikin each received the Deacon Award, which recognizes the student-athlete who has made significant contributions to the team through her achievements as a student and as an athlete. This person symbolizes a standard of excellence in and out of the gym, always seeking to bring out the best in her teammates, and unselfishly devotes herself to reaching team goals and continues to inspire them.
Mullikin also took home the Academic Award, presented by volleyball academic counselor Elizabeth Miller to the student-athlete with the highest GPA.
